James Corden used part of his farewell speech on Thursday鈥檚 final episode of CBS鈥� 鈥� to address the deep rift in America over hot button issues including politics and ideology.
鈥淲e started this show with Obama, then Trump and a global pandemic. I鈥檝e watched America change a lot. I鈥檝e watched divisions grow and I鈥檝e felt a sense of negativity boil over,鈥� said the host. He implored his audience to 鈥渞emember what America signifies to the rest of the world. My entire life it has always been a place of optimism. 鈥� Yes, it has flaws but show me a place that doesn鈥檛. Show me a person that doesn鈥檛.
鈥淛ust because somebody disagrees with you it doesn鈥檛 make them bad or evil. We are all more the same than we are different. There are so many people who are trying to stoke those differences and we have to try as best we can to look for the light, look for the joy. If you do, it鈥檚 out there. That鈥檚 all this show has ever been about,鈥� he said.
one year ago that he would be ending his late-night show after eight seasons, citing a desire to return to his native UK to be closer to family and loved ones. His parents were seated in the audience for the final taping, and his sisters, he joked, were in town too 鈥�- but at a bar instead.
Also Thursday CBS aired a primetime special called 鈥淭he Last Last Late Late Show Special鈥� featuring taped segments with Tom Cruise (where they performed stunts and sang a duet of 鈥淐an You Feel the Love Tonight鈥� from 鈥淭he Lion King鈥�) and Adele, where they taped a final Carpool Karaoke segment.
Corden reminded the singer that she has an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar and wondered if she would ever actively pursue a Tony Award. 鈥淵ou have the EGO鈥� he said.
鈥淚 really don鈥檛 think that that is ever gonna happen. I would never write a musical or anything like that because I (expletive) hate musicals,鈥� said Adele to laughter. 鈥淚 also think the EGO suits me better.鈥�
Harry Styles and Will Ferrell were Corden鈥檚 final guests. Styles has been a frequent visitor to the show, and has even guest-hosted twice. He鈥檚 been game for a number of taped bits with Corden including the time the host directed a for Styles鈥� song 鈥淒aylight鈥� for just $300 and when the musician took part in a more than 11-minute segment featuring a UK Vs. US game where Corden, Styles, 鈥淕ames of Thrones鈥� actor James Bradley and Benedict Cumberbatch faced off against players including Michelle Obama, Mila Kunis, Kate Hudson, Lena Waithe, and Melissa McCarthy.
鈥淎s a friend, I鈥檓 so incredibly proud of you,鈥� Styles told Corden. 鈥淥n a personal note, you鈥檝e been a safe space to me always as a friend.鈥� He added that he was 鈥欌�漵elfishly very excited that you鈥檙e coming home.鈥� Styles, Corden and Ferrell then embraced in a group hug.
There were also goodbyes from the other late night hosts. Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and David Letterman all appeared in a pre-taped segment with Corden. They joked that since Corden was ending his show, they could each call dibs on one of his segments.
They all chose Carpool Karaoke, referencing Corden鈥檚 most popular sketch where he drives around Los Angeles with celebrities and sing songs. , Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and Chris Martin are a few of his Carpool Karaoke passengers. The segment was such a hit that it spun-off into its own series for Apple. Corden only appeared in the debut episode with Will Smith in the car.
Corden closed out the night by playing a piano and singing a song with the crew and staff gathered around the stage. 鈥淧art of me thinks I should stay here forever but deep in my heart I just know,鈥� Corden sang. 鈥淣o more shows to be showing, it鈥檚 time I was going, It鈥檚 time. Thanks for watching, that鈥檚 our show.鈥�
Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press
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